Marking device for strand material



3 R Tu w 4 MA m 4 I T m a 2 K g. fi E m E E K BAUER MARKING DEVICE FORSTRAND MATERIAL Filed Dec. 15, 1949 I July 7, 1953 Patented July 7, 1953MARKING DEVICE FOR STRAND MATERIAL Ernest K. Bauer, Meadville, Pa.,assignor to American Viscose Corporation, DeL, a corporationof DelawareWilmington,

Application December 15, 1949, Serial No. 133,200

This invention relates to an apparatus for marking continuously runningstrands. More particularly the invention relates to marking continuouslyrunning strands at regular and predetermined intervals, such strands,for example, as those of a warp sheet, and marking the same during thewinding or other manipulation thereof,

such as on a spool or beam. The purpose of the marking is to warn oradvise subsequent operators of the length of the strands used duringcertain textile operations, such as in weaving, knitting, braiding, orthe like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means for markinga continuously running strand while it is running at high speeds.

Another object is to provide a marking system which applies a controlledamount of marking medium to the high speed running strand.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedrawing and descrip- Figure 5 is a view of an alternative embodiment ofthe invention. 1

Briefly, the operation of the invention is as follows: a rotatable drum,in contact with a viscous ink supply so that its surface remains coveredwith a certain amount of the same, said amount being controlled by ascraper bar, is placed under the running strand but not in contact withthe same. A bar, transverse of the direction of travel of the strand, isplaced abovethe strand and at regular predetermined intervals comes downand forces the strand against the top surface of the ink covered drumthus marking the strand. The transverse bar is actuated by a solenoidwhich in turn is actuated by a switch associated with an idler ormeasuring roll which is rotated by the strand or strands passing overthe same-and at the same linear speed. The solenoid may also be actuatedby a switch associatedwith the driving connections for the spool orbeamer or the "means for feeding the strand or strands, such as thedriving rolls, and the like. The solenoid may be actuated by anindependent timing mechanism 8 Claims. -(Cl. 118234) if desired. Thusmarks may be made on the strand or strands at any desired distanceapart.

The marking'medium may be of permanent or of fugitive inks or dyes andmay be applied to a single yarn as it is being wound into package formof conical, cylindrical or spherical shape for the purpose of indicatinga definite yardage between successive marks. It may be applied to thewarp as it is being wound on a beamer so that as the yarn is withdrawnin a loom, it is possible to determine when a certain length of fabrichas been Woven. The ink or dye must be used in viscous solution in orderthat the same will not penetrate or strike through onto several coursesof yarns when wound, making it difficult to decide where the mark wasmade.

For a more detailed description, reference is made to the drawing whichdepicts the invention as the same is employed in connection with a warp.The invention will be described with reference to all five figures ofthe drawing.

In a roller housing 3, comprising end plates 36! and 3b there isrotatably mounted a shaft 30 to which is fixed, as by keying, acorrugated or grooved roller 4 so that its upper surface extends beyondthe upper surface of the housing. If desired, the roller 4 may have asmooth surface. The housing is bolted to a horizontal metal plate 5which in turn is fastened to a vertical plate 6 which rests onand isfastened to the horizontal metal plateor-panel fl.

Adjacentone side of the housing structure is an ink receptacle 8comprising a cylinder 9 with screw caps [0 at either end with a plungerll contained inthecylinder 9 operated by turning the handle l2. The ink,being in azviscous state,

is forced by the plunger through the feed line [3 and through the inkinlet opening l4 extending across the surface of the roller 4. Thus, asthe roller 4 is turned, its surface is covered with ink picked up bycontact with the ink at the opening [4. Although theink cylinder isshown with a hand operated plunger, any automatic hydraulic or.pneumatic plunger may be employed so that a'constant pressure on theviscous ink is maintained thus assuring an even supply of the samecapable of being raised and lowered in a vertical plane. In Figures 2and 3 the arm I! is shown in its raised position. Attached to one end ofthe arm ii is a vertical rod i8 extending down below the roller assemblyand attached at its lower end to a bell crank lever l9 pivoted at 20,the other end of which is fastened to the pivoted arm member 2| which isin turn fastened to the reciprocal rod 22 operated by means of thesolenoid 23. Attached between one arm of the bell crank lever i9 and theprojection 24 extending inwardly from the vertical plate is a spring 25.The purpose of the spring is to return the bell crank lever to itsoriginal position when the solenoid is deenergizedthe operation of whichis explained hereinafter.

The solenoid rotates the bell crank lever which in turn lowers the armii against the warp thread it? bringing the latter in contact with theroller l. The roller i at the same time is rotated in a directionopposite to the direction of travelof the warp thread. This isaccomplished by means of the. movement of the arm ii. To the end of thearm ii, there is attached an arm or lever 25 by means of a washer 2! andcotter pin 28, the arm ll extending through the elongated opening 29 inthe lever 25 so that when the arm ii is lowered it moves along the slotor elongated opening in lever 26 to the dotted line position shown inFigure l. The other end of lever 23 is rotatably mounted on shaft 30. Aratchet 3 .3 is keyed to shaft 30 adjacent one end ofroller ii. To thelever 28 there is attached a pawl 3| held down aga nst the ratchet bymeans of the spring 32. Hence, when the arm I! is lowered, the lever 28is rotated thus turning the roll 3 in a counterclockwise direction bymeans of the ratchet 3% and pawl 3i. To prevent the roller i fromturning in a clockwise direction when the arm i! is again raised, thereis positioned on the lower side of the ratchet as a second pawl 33 heldin position against the ratchet by means of the spring The distancethrough which the arm i'i travels is regulated or controlled by anadjustable stop adjacent the lower arm of the bell crank lever i9.Thestop consists of a' threaded socket set screw 5% extending downwardlythrough a threaded projection 5? extending outwardly from the apparatusframework, the socket set screw being locked in positicn'and adjusted bymeans of the lock nut 53. The socket set screw 58 prevents the furthercounterclockwise motion of the bell crank lever i9 when the latter comesin contact with it and the distance of rotation is regulated by thedistance the socket set screw extends beyond the projection 57 to wardthe bell crank lever i9.

In order to prevent too large an amount of ink from getting on thesurface of the roller, there is provided a scraper bar 35 pivotally 4beamer or the means for feeding the strand or strands. In the preferredembodiment shown, however, the energization of the solenoid Z3 isderived from the idler or measuring roll The measuring roll is driven bythe strands passing over the same. The strands or yarns in turn pulledthrough the apparatus from the creel by the positively driven beainer(not shown). Fixed to the shaft 9 carrying the measu g roil SE is apinion 4! in mesh with a gear Z2 secured to shaft d3 carrying a disk i lof insulating material provided with an outwardly ektending projectionor pin 15.01 insulating iii-ateial near the periphery thereof. Adiacentthe k is a switch 3-3 which comprises a metal oar il securely fastenedat one contact point '33 but not in contact with the other contact pointWe of the switch. As the disk i l is re died the projection to comesinto contact with the metal piece or bar 4? forcing the same against thecontact point 49 thus closing the circuit to the" solenoid 23. When theprojection passes over the bar 41 the latter springs to its normal.position opening the circuit to the solenoid 23. -eans of thisarrangement the solenoid E3 is actuated at regular intervals, e. g. eachtime roll 33 makes a predetermined number of complete revolutions. Ifdesired roll 33 may be positively driven in which case a second roll 59is empioyed in conjunction therewith as shown in Figure 5. Roll 5% isplaced above roll 39 in the same plane and driven at the same peripheralspeed. ar'- or other material is passed between the rolls 38 and thusbeing driven or pulled through the marking mechanism.

The gears ii and 32 are selected to desired yardage between energizationof the-sclenoid 23 by the closing of switch 25 by the projection 35.These gears maybe replaced by any form of conventional gear-reducer togive the desired spacing between markings which be frequent or widelyspaced depending on the precise purpose of the marking.

The electric circuit for energizing the solenoid 23 comprises a line 5!connecting one terminal of the solenoid with switch 535, line 52connecting the other terminal of the solenoid with one side of a currentsource 53, and a master control switch 5 2 in a third line 55 connectingswitch =26 to the other side of the current source 53.

The operation of the above described apparatus is as follows: when thespring metal bar 41 closes the circuit to the solenoid 23, the arm 22 isshifted to the right, as viewed in Figure 1, this in turn rotating thebell crank lever i9 give the in a counterclockwise direction thusLringing the mounted at 36 and adjustable to and from the roller t bymeans of the screw 3? extending through the lower end of the scraper andseated in the roller housing 3 and acting against the spring 38 betweenthe scraper and housing. The scraper insures the same amount of ink onthe surface of the roller in contact with the strands of warp thread atall times. Any suitable scraping means may be employed such as a doctorblade, scraping bar, roller, and the like.

The energization of the solenoid 23 is preferably effectedintermittently at intervals which correspond with known lengths of thestrand or strands. from the driving connections for the spool or Thusits energization may be derived.

arm i1 down against the warp thread and to the dotted line positionshown in Figure i. In this position the strands come in contact with thecorrugated or grooved roller and by. each strand falling into a grooveon the surface of the roller it is completely submerged in the viscousink. When the arm it moves downward, it rotates the roller 4 thusinsuring a smooth, evenly inked surface when the strands come in contactwith the same and at which time,'i. e. strand contact time, the rollerhas ceased turning since the arm ll has then come to rest in itslowermost position, shown by the dotted. lines in Figures 1 and 4.

When the projection 45 moves past the spring metal bar 4?, the solenoid23 is deenergized and the spring 25 acting on the bell crank lever itrotates the same in a clockwise direction thus returning the arm I! toits uppermost position,

shown in Figure 1, out of contact with the strands of warp thread. Thewarp thread, of course, returns to its natural, traveling course throughthe apparatus shown by the solid line in supplies, such as in U. S,2,298,888 to Kaufman but without the necessity to mark the yarns duringknitting. For this purpose, the frequency of marking of the severalbeams forming the source of supply for the several warps may be the sameand adjustably-spaced observationstations similar to those of the patentmaybe provided; In the alternative the frequency of markings of theseveral warps may be related inversely to the rates of speed of theseveral warps sothat coincidence of the markings of each warp occurs atdefinite intervals which may be timed at a single observation station orwatched at two or more stations suitably'spaced apart along the yarntravel.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for intermittently marking a running strand comprisingmeans for drawing a strand along a path, a roller for applying a markingmaterial having its periphery adjacent one side of the path and normallyout of contact with thestrand in said path,a shaft'for sup porting theroller for rotation, said shaft and roller being mounted in a'container,a pivotally for rocking the lever, an arm pivotally mounted on the axisof the shaft and extending to a posi tion beyond the other side of thepath, a mem ber interconnecting the lever and the arm for swinging thearm when the lever is rocked, means mounted on the arm comprising anelement on saidother side of the path for moving the running strandagainst the periphery of the roller when the armis swung on its pivotalaxis, means interconnecting the arm and roller for rotating the rollerwhen the arm is swung to move the strand against the roller periphery,and means driven in synchronism with the rum ning strand forintermittently energizing the electroma netic means to control thefrequency of contact between the strand and the roller.

2. Apparatus for intermittently marking a running strand comprisingmeans for drawing a strand along a path, a roller for applying a markingmaterial having its-periphery adjacent one side ofthe path and normallyout of contact with the strand in said path, a shaft for supporting theroller for rotation, said shaft and roller being mounted in a container,a pivotally mounted bell crank lever, electromagnetic means for rockingthe lever, an arm pivotally mounted on the axis of the shaft andextending to a position beyond the other side of the path, amemberinterconnecting the lever and the, arm for swinging the arm whenthe lever is rocked, means mounted on the arm comprising an element onsaid other side of the path normally out of contact with the strand inthe path for moving the running when the arm is swung to move the strandagainst the roller periphery, and means driven in synchronism with therunning strand for intermittently energizing the electromagnetic meansto control the frequency of contact between the strand and the roller.

3. Apparatus for intermittently marking a running strand comprisingmeans for drawing a strand along a path, a roller for applying a markingmaterial having its periphery adjacent one side of the path and normallyout of contact with the strand in said path, a shaft for supporting the.roller for rotation, said shaft and roller being mounted in acontainer, a pivotally mounted bell crank lever, electromagnetic meansfor rocking the lever, an arm pivotally mounted on the axis of the shaftand extending to a position beyond the other side of the path, a rodpivotally connected to the lever and to the arm for swinging the armwhen the lever is rocked,

means mounted on the arm comprising an element on said other side of thepath normally out of contact with the strand in the path for moving therunning strand against the periphery of the roller when the arm is swungon its pivelectromagnetic means to control the frequency of contactbetween the strand and the roller.

,4; Apparatus for intermittently marking a running strand comprisingmeans for drawing a strand along a path, a roller for applying a markingmaterial having its periphery adjacent one side of the path and normallyout of contact with strand against the periphery of the roller when apawl extending from the arm and in engagement with the ratchet forrotating the roller the arm when the lever is-rocked, means mount ed onthe arm comprising an element on said other side of the path normallyout of contact with the strand in the path for moving the running strandagainst the periphery of the roller when the arm is swung on its pivotalaxis, means interconnecting the arm and roller for rotating the rollerwhen the arm is swung to move the strand against the roller periphery,and

a timing roll driven in synchronism with and by the running strand forintermittently energizing the electromagnetic means to control thefrequency of contact between the strand and the roller.

' 5. Apparatus for intermittently marking a.

running strand comprising a rotatable roller,

means for drawing a strand along a path above and normally out oi'contact with the periphery .of the roller, a horizontal shaft forsupporting the'roller for rotation, a housing having a curved wall, saidroller being mounted in the housing with an upper peripheral, portionprotruding therefrom and a lowerperipheral portion disposed in closeproximity to the curved wall along the entire lower peripheral portion,said wall having anelongated opening therein parallel to the axis ofrotation of the roller, means for continuously forcing ink through theelongated opening into contact with the roller periphery.

with the strand in the path for depressing the running strand againstthe periphery of the roller when the arm is swung on its pivotal axis,means interconnecting the arm and roller for rotating the roller whenthe arm .is swung to move the strand against the roller periphery, andmeans driven in synchronism with the running strand for intermittentlyenergizing the electromagnetic means to control the frequency of contactbetween the strand and the roller.

6. Apparatus for intermittently marking a running strand comprising arotatable roller, means for drawing a strand along a path above andnormally out of contact with the periphery of the roller, a horizontalshaft for supporting the.

roller for rotation, .a housing having a curved wall, said roller beingmounted in the housing with an upper peripheral portion protrudingtherefrom and a lower peripheral portion disposed in close proximity tothe curved wall along the entire lower peripheral portion, said wallhaving an elongated generally horizontal opening therein, means forcontinuously forcing ink through the elongated opening into contact withthe roller periphery, a pivotally mounted bell crank lever,electromagnetic means for rocking the lever, an arm pivotally mounted onthe axis of the shaft and extending to a position above the path, amember interconnecting the lever and the arm for swinging the arm whenthe lever is rocked, an element mounted on the arm above the pathnormallyout of contact with the strand for depressing the strand againstthe for drawing a strand along a path above and normally out of contactwith the periphery of the roller, a horizontal shaft for supporting theroller for rotation, a housing having a curved wall, said roller beingmounted in the housing with an upper peripheral portion protrudingtherefrom and a lower peripheral portion disposed in closed proximity tothe curved wall along the entire lower peripheral portion, said wallhaving an elongated generally horizontal opening therein, means forcontinuously forcing ink through the elongated opening into contact withthe roller periphery, a pivotally mounted bell crank lever,electromagnetic means for rocking the lever, an arm pivotally mounted onthe axis of the shaft and extending to a position above the path, a rodpivotally connected to the lever and. to the arm for swinging the armwhen the lever is rocked, an element mounted on the arm above the pathnormally out of contact with the strand for depressing the strandagainst the roller periphery when the arm is swung on its pivotal axis,a ratchet connected to the roller for rotation therewith, a pawlextending from the arm and in engagement with the ratchet for rotatingthe roller when the arm is swung to move the strand.

against the roller periphery, and means driven in synchronism with therunning strand for intermittently energizing the electromagnetic meansto control the frequency of contact between the strand and the roller.

8. Apparatus for intermittently marking a running strand comprising arotatable roller,

means for drawing the strand along a path above and normally out ofcontact with the periphery of the roller, a horizontal shaft forsupporting the roller for rotation, a housing having a curved wall, saidroller beingv mounted in the housing with an upper peripheral portionprotruding therefrom and a lower peripheral portion disposed in closeproximity to the curved wall along the entire lower peripheral portion,said wall having an elongated generally horizontal opening thereinparallel to the axis of rotation of the roller, means for continuouslyforcing ink through the elongated opening into contact with the rollerperiphery, a pivotally mounted bell crank lever, electro-magnetic meansfor rocking the lever, an arm pivotally mounted on the axis of the shaftand extending to a position above the path, a member interconnecting thelever and the arm for swinging the arm when the lever rocked, an elementmounted on the arm above the path normally out of contact with thestrand for depressing the strand against the roller periphery of theroller when the arm is swung on its pivotal axis, means interconnectingthe arm and roller for rotating the roller when the arm is swung to movethe strand against the roller periphery, and a timing roll driven insynchronism with and by the running strand for intermittently energizingthe electromagnetic means to control the frequency of contact betweenthe strand and the rol er.

ERNEST K. BAUER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,031,620 Callan W July 2, 1912 1,192,380 Brackett July 25,1916 1,348,974 Ainsworth Aug. 10, 1920 1,384,940 Denison July 19, 19211,399,160 Sevigne 1 Dec. 6, 1921 1,583,577 Coleman May 4, 1926 1,770,910Byrd July 22, 1930 1,845,010 Zavodoff Feb. 16, 1932 1,929,192 TaylorOct. 3, 1933 2,289,798 Nadeau et al. July 14, 1942 2,289,862 Bailey July14, 1942 2,462,474 Delano Feb. 22, 1949 2,584,856 Bauer Apr. 17, 1951FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 412,600 Great Britain June 23, 1934

